Mobilizing Knowledge to Enhance Municipal Capacity to Promote and Support Sustainable Production Systems in the Niagara Region
Project Summary
The project established the Niagara Agriculture Municipal Learning Network (NAMLN) to bring together municipal staff and elected officials from the 13 municipalities in Niagara to build capacity for supporting and promoting the agriculture sector through evidence-based policy and programs and planning.
Through weekly emails and videos, over 150 staff and elected officials representing the 12 municipalities and the Region of Niagara were engaged on a weekly basis and introduced to various challenges and opportunities in the agriculture sector. The project produced five Facts About Farming Briefing Notes and three Facts About Farming Research Summaries. A farm tour to 4 Niagara-based farms was hosted in September 2022 with 20 participants.
Overall, the project fostered open dialogue among municipalities, promoting an open learning culture that built awareness about agriculture with municipal staff beyond municipal economic development and planning departments and highlighted the importance of including an 'agriculture lens' to all municipal decisions.
Goals
The objective of this project was to build capacity within the municipalities of Niagara to support and promote a competitive, sustainable agriculture sector.
Funding provided by:
"A thriving agriculture industry depends on the knowledge and support provided by municipal governments." (Caldwell et al, 2021)
Project Outputs
Facts about Farming Briefing Note
NAMLN Briefing Note #1 - 11 Facts about Farming.
Facts About On-Farm Biosecurity Briefing Note
NAMLN Briefing Note #2 - 11 Facts about On-Farm Biosecurity.
Facts about Agricultural Infrastructure Briefing Note
NAMLN Briefing Note #3 - 13 Facts about Agricultural Infrastructure.
Facts about Climate Change and Agriculture Briefing Note
NAMLN Briefing Note #4 - 10 Facts about Climate Change and Farming.
Facts about Vertical Farming Briefing Note
NAMLN Briefing Note #5 - 11 Facts about Vertical Farming.
Accelerating the Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Practices: A Case Study of How Grapevine Virus Research Is Shared and Used
NAMLN Research Summary on the work of Kaitlyn Carr.
Developing Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Adaptation Solutions
NAMLN Research Summary on the work of Liette Vasseur.
CLEan plAnt extractioN SEquencing Diagnostics (CLEANSED) for Virus-free Grapevines in Canada
NAMLN Research Summary on the work of Sudarsana Poojari.
Growing Municipal Capacity to Promote and Support Agriculture in the Niagara Region – Niagara Agriculture Municipal Learning Network
Niagara Agriculture Municipal Learning Network Launch slide deck.
Enhancing Municipal Capacity to Promote and Support Agriculture in the Niagara Region Through the Niagara Agricultural Municipal Learning Network
Poster for 2023 Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention on the establishment of the Niagara Agricultural Municipal Learning Network.
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NCO Agrifood Innovation Research Day: Growing Municipal Capacity to Promote and Support Agriculture in the Niagara Region
Project Wrap-Up Presentation.
Growing Municipal Capacity to Promote & Support Agriculture in the Niagara Region – Niagara Agriculture Municipal Learning Network
Niagara Agriculture Municipal Learning Network Launch webinar.
NAMLN Presentation at OMAFRA KTT Symposium 2023
Niagara Agriculture Municipal Learning Network presentation at OMAFRA's 2023 KTT Symposium.
